Las Vegas, NV — Against Damir Ismagulov in the UFC Vegas 66 co-main event, Arman Tsarukyan learned that his opponent was tougher than expected.
Certainly more well-rounded, with a better ground game than lightweight Tsarukyan (19-3) had anticipated.
“I thought I could choke him very easy. I felt like ‘if I get his back, I’m going to choke him right away.’ Because I heard he doesn’t have good wrestling, grappling. But today I understood he’s tough on the ground too. It’s difficult to hold him there. He was really good,” Tsarukyan told media outlets including Cageside Press following the fight at the UFC Apex, which wound up going the distance. “Nobody stopped him or knocked him out in the UFC. I’m the first guy who beat him here, and I think it’s a big fight for me and a big name. He’s not in the top five but he is tougher than top [five] fighters.”
With the unanimous decision win and no injuries coming out of Saturday’s fight, Tsarukyan is ready to return at a moment’s notice — for the right fight. “I would like to have next fight five rounds, because I know my conditioning is good,” Tsarukyan said Saturday. He’s also aiming for a big fight, up in the rankings. Otherwise, he may take his time coming back.
“I’m young and I can cut weight. If UFC offered me a big fight, I’m going to be ready tomorrow. But if they offer me someone from the top 15, I’m not going to fight, I’m going to wait a little bit,” Tsarukyan stated. “Improve my skills, and go to ATT to train with my coach. Last time, I had it [fight camp] in Thailand because I didn’t have my visa, and he got mad. This time, I gotta go to Miami, ATT and train with him a long time and then choke everybody. Because this time, he said I made some mistakes in grappling but we’re going to improve it and we’re gonna choke everybody.”
Watch the full UFC Vegas 66 post-fight press scrum with Arman Tsarukyan above.
